Premium owners-Do you find the extra goodies are not worth it?
 

'Spartan' was the way I decided to go. Also, less money, immediate availability and cloth seats were the deciding factors.

Coming from a FRS owner, I feel the BRZ HIDs in the Premium may be worth it alone. Assuming I could have found one 9 months ago at MSRP, in hindsight, I would have sprung for a WRB MT BRZ Limited. The rarity factor and the relatively small price difference for the HIDs, leatherish seats, push button start, fogs, spoiler, trunk lid carpet, keyless trunk, etc are worth it. But from a pure driving perspective the 2 twins are virtually identical.

I'm trying to make myself feel better for purchasing a premium by getting a header back exhaust system with the money i saved

I intercepted my BRZ Premium as ordered by the original person who backed out: 6MT with a factory spoiler.

I personally find the front end of the Limited to be kinda busy looking with the fog lights but I wouldn't let that influence my purchase decision. The rest of the additional features equipped on the Limited are nice but not worth paying a big premium for, IMO. If you can get a smoking deal on a Limited for say ~27k, then go for it.

I bought the Premium mainly because I think the spoiler ruins the look of the car and because I didn't really want any of the other additions that come with the limited...

So here's a story for you, My father went and purchased a SSM BRZ limited in Automatic before I left for the 86expo so this was about two months ago, now he's a man close to his 60s and has always owned a spartan like car(IE. AE86) when I got back he said he returned the Limited BRZ because he hated the HVAC and all the buttons, he loved the simplicity of the Premium Knobs were apprantely easier, and the FRS over the Limited. In the end we got a base Outback instead cause he complained about space, he was a pretty finicky guy. That and pressure from the mother.

In honest truth I've been in all 3 of these cars and driven them for a while on some, I can say if you just didn't need things like push start or HVAC, or do you care much for HID the FRS is your best bet, but if you want something just a tiny bit more then get a Premium.

but in anycase if you own a 86 type car you're going to be happy with your purchase no matter what trim, that's just my Opinion.

To me, it's not worth it. The touchscreen hifi is probably more frustrating than helpful, turning a key is part of the automotive experience, and I've honestly never been stuck in fog. Most people just misuse them in clear weather anyway. The spoiler is meh, the different seat material is nothing special. Climate control is not my style, if I want colder or warmer I like turning the knob.

Heated seats are nice but not worth all the other stuff.

Just my personal preference. I don't knock anybody with a Limited. The important thing is we have fun with the cars and share memories.

The only features I would miss are the push button start, the keyless entry, and the spoiler.

Honestly, with only $1000 or so MSRP difference to the FRS, I rather have a screen of some sort that upgrades the interior as well as HID + LED DRLs. I live in Cali so heated seats are rarely used. Fog lights IMO detract from the overall clean look of the car.

In Canada they call the more expensive model the "Sport - Tech" package. I really like the seats with the leather accents and red stiching. Also, the spoiler for me makes it look more complete and the fog lights (when switched to an HID bulb) make it stand out from the crowd. The biggest thing was I wanted it to NOT look like an FRS, and so far, there has been no such confusion. Even had an FRS owner tell me he wished he could have got the same look as I did on the Subie. With evrything, to each his own, but I think for the extra $, a little exclusivity is worth it.

between FRS and BRZ- I prefer the BRZ front bumper, big personal choice but I like the BRZ. HIDs are nice but cheap and could be added to the FRS easily, however I like the Boomerang and the LED strip also. Not a fan of the FRS seats, red shoulders... :barf:

Premium vs. Limited- I hate push button start. Everything else I could care less about, I dont like the spoiler but could swap that easily, keyless entry can be nice but I work at a car stereo shop so if I really wanted that I could do it for next to nothing. But I really hate push button start, call me crazy but I really enjoy getting into a car, pushing in the clutch, and turning a key to bring a car to life.

If I could get the Limited without Keyless, I'd be all over it.
This being the first keyless/pushstart car I've ever lived with, I have to say I hate that - there's just less control.
With the key, I can flip the car to ACC or ON without starting and back, but with the push start, you need to turn it off to get it back to the beginning (not particularly fun if you are talking on the phone or listening to music and just want to shut off the engine, because it takes a long time to load back up)

Haven't used the foglamps (which seem to be there for cosmetic purposes more than anything)

Premium BRZ is the best value IMO. Even better if you can get 1-2k off like a Limited BRZ.

Flat- the bumper is one of the main reasons I got the frs instead of brz. But I agree the cars do not look the same similar but not the same

I'm in this camp...I had my choice the day I bought my car as the dealer had one of each in the same color with the same accessories (home link, trunk applique, etc.). I didn't really like the way the alcantra felt and I've never been a big fan of push button start. I think I would have enjoyed the auto hvac controls though, that was the only reason I looked. Originally I started my search looking for an FR-S so I'm glad I picked the "middle" option.

I can see some people went FR-S either b/c of subbie mark-ups or local dealers not wanting to negotiate, I had time on my hands so I negotiated well but if I couldn't I would have seriously missed out on these headlights had I gone FR-S.

To the people who are fans of the push button start, what is it you like about it?

Cause it lets me be lazy and not have to take a key out. Clutch in, push button. No pulling the key out.

Cuz itz BALLA

The push button start itself isn't anything special, but the real important thing is keyless entry. It's nice to not need to fumble in my pocket for keys. A lot of times they migrate down to the bottom below your wallet or sunglasses, or you walk out to the car with stuff in both hands and have to dig your keys out, or you're holding something heavy in your right hand and your keys are in your right pocket so you've got to switch around and reach for them. I absolutely love just walking up and opening it, and not having to stick anything in the ignition.

As for the button itself, I could take it or leave it. If there was a big rotary switch that was the same size and shape as a keyfob located on the side of the steering column, and it worked the same as a regular ignition, but your actual key could still be in your pocket, I wouldn't mind that at all. I guess the push button is neat looking, especially since it's in an unusual spot (most cars I've seen it have it up on the dashboard to the right of the steering column), and you can press it with your hand on the shifter, but it is definitely annoying to not be able to kill the engine but leave accessory on, especially since the BRZ is one of the few new cars that won't leave the radio on between turning off the ignition and opening the door.

Go with a premium. I own a limited and would go back in time if I could. Here are my reasons

-I don't like the spoiler as much as I thought I would. Without it, the car looks much more cleaner.
-I never use the fog lights and even in fog they aren't the best.
-Push to start lost it's gimmick.
-Leather seats are starting to wear and it makes me feel sad inside.

The only plus is the heated seats during winter. I live in PA so winter gets cold and it is a long season.

Like most people said on here already, it's about the driving experience. Either way you are getting a fantastic car. Good luck!

It drops panties

Just saying that the FR-S can get HID headlights (though LED strip instead of the boomerang) and a spoiler. The grill is really the biggest differentiator.

It's more of a novelty thing. At least for me. Just a premium option/accessory.

I had been planning on the Limited BRZ. I thought the spoiler, keyless entry, push-button start, and fog lights made it worth the extra price. I didn't care about the seats since I've never had an issue with cloth seats before (actually prefer them since they aren't flaming hot in the summer).

Not a problem in the A/T. The radio stays on if you hit the button with the shifter in any position besides park.

I test drove an A/T Limited since at the time there were no 6MT Limiteds available in a 200 mile radius. The seats were hot, auto climate was more a nuisance than benefit, and the spoiler looked like a small aircraft device. The only feature I liked was the keyless entry, which is sadly a longstanding problem on other Toyota models. I was left realizing that the Limited would be more of a compromise than the Premium.

Porsche still uses keyed ignitions on the GT3, GT2 RS, and Cayman R so I can't say I've ever felt any less "baller" for not having push-button start, nor has the lack thereof had trouble dropping panties. Those are up to the driver, not the car, anyway.

The only feature my gf wishes this car had were illuminated visor mirrors. An eyelash incident had her asking why the mirror didn't light. I had to pull over since the road was bumpy so I can't say the light would have mattered. Her panties still fell off later so I didn't find it an issue. :iono:

So don't wear'm.

I have the best of both worlds!

Keyless, Hvac, cloth seats, and frameless rear view which is ballin'! :D

I don't like leather seats, the spoiler, and push start so I got premium. Thankfully I was able to get a WRB Premium, if I couldn't find one I would have gotten a whiteout or raven FR-S

This is where the RX-8 had it right. It had a fake type key in the ignition that you couldn't turn without the proximity key close by like in your pocket. So it had the buttons on the door handle to get in and out without taking the key out and you could still "turn" a key to acc or on without taking a key out.

I wish more companies followed suit.


As for the limited features...I absolutely love the spoiler, it's not crazy huge or eye intrusive but still adds a little sportiness. The seats are fantastic but not worth a price increase. It's a tough call but I typically take the highest trim level on all cars I buy.

It's kinda like ordering a filet minion at a fancy restaurant without any special toppings. Sure it's still a great tasting piece of meat but for a few bucks extra its the best the house has to offer. By the end of the day you won't notice the few extra dollars.

I have Smart key on my Prius and you get used to not having to dig around in you pockets for keys and you can just jump in and push the start button and be on your way.

Once you find whichever temperature you like, you never touch it again. Literally. Never touched it more than just on/off on this car or my previous car. It takes some getting used to at first, but it's particularly great on longer drives when you don't have to think about it cause it ramps it up and down according to the temperature inside the cabin.

If you look at all (or most) high end super cars/luxury cars (Aston, Ferrari, Bmw etc). They all have push button ignitions. It was a type of ignition that was used in race cars and with the simple push of a button, the car roars to life. Other lower end cars now have it to give you a "feel" of luxury, or sportiness. A key to me is just old school, like using a giant cell phone, or having manual roll up windows! Embrace the new technology! Also, the keyless entry is so convienient. Everything about the higher model car is better, thats why it costs more......the seats ARE better (some people dont like leather seats peirod becasue it's "too hot"...or "too cold".....personel preference, but high end materials like leather and alacantra are more expensive, and just higher end), the spoiler makes the car stand out from the crowd and makes it look more complete (I think the back end looks funny without it), the dual climate control system is amazing.....(I can be nice and cool on the driver side, while my passanger cranks the heat!), heated seats are also well worth it, (even on a cool fall/spring night, you can cruise with the window down as the seat keeps you feeling warm!), fog lights (well, to me, it shows everyone you have the higher end model, they fill in that empty gap on the bumper, and they help illuminate the road...even if its just a little bit, but extra light is extra light!). In the end, a higher end model, is a higher end model, if you don't like the "extra" features then that's up to you, but for me, I like them and am glad I have ALL of them every single time I get in my car.

For the keyless system, push to start button, etc. one word "convenient". To some it'll take away that nostalgic feeling of starting the engine with the key, but after 5 months of owning it, I just love keeping my keys in my pocket.

It has it's drawbacks though, I've been having ignition issues time to time, where my keys are in pocket and car won't start, just goes to accessories mode. Might be interference? I have no idea... if anyone knows what causes this let me know. I've already tried having 2 sets of (different car & electronic) keys and that worked fine, it just randomly comes up.

I went for the Premium over the Limited for several reasons:

1) I don't like leather seats. They're a terrible material for comfort in automobiles. Hot in the Summer; cold in the Winter. Plus the bolsters crack and crease easily.
2) With cloth seats, I've never needed heated seats - even in Winter.
3) OEM foglights are pretty worthless in actual fog in my opinion.
4) I don't like the look of the OEM spoiler. At all.
5) My experience with Subaru's dual zone climate control is not great. I always overrode it on my previous Subaru.


I could have taken or left the push button start. I've never had it before, so it could've been neat to try out.

The only thing that I 'miss' from the Limited is the red seven segment LED clock. I like the 'retroness' of red LED clocks. Instead, I have the orange clock that's in the FR-S.

Without keyless entry:
1. Push unlock on keyfob when coming close to car
2. Open door for date

Big deal.

Do you have a MT or AT? I know with the MT, you have to make sure the cluth pedal is pushed in all the way....if its not, it will just go too ACC mode when button is pushed. (There will be a "green key" lit up on the gauges to let you know its good to start. Not sure with the AT....might be the same but with the brake pedal?

Yep, MT, clutch fully depressed everytime I do this, the green key is lit up as well. Sometimes it blinks though, I've had both instance where it didn't start up when fully stable lit and also when blinking (while clutch fully in).

I should also note I didn't do the short clutch adjustment.

Reading the TSBs, maybe it has to do with the "11-130-13R : Difficulty Starting, Rough Idle, Cam Position, Misfire".

It's interesting how many Limited owners joined the conversation to justify why others should have bought a different model. There's already a thread for you here: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44233 ;)


I still found it a nuisance and would much rather control it myself. I grew up with and owned enough sports cars to appreciate the do-it-myself task of turning a simple knob to get the exact results I want. I rarely use A/C anyway and don't want it on or cycling all the time. For me it sees more use in the cold to defog the windows.


Most perhaps but not all. Like I said...
I personally don't find it a luxury/supercar feature given that the very first automotive electronic ignition was push-button start and it's now being introduced in econo-box automobiles to satisfy the "me too" crowd. Keys are certainly a dying breed though, no arguments there. Eventually the start button will be diluted into an average, standard feature and no longer considered high-end. I'll take it if it's free but won't go out of my way for a button. There's still plenty of satisfaction to be found in turning a key. :thumbsup:


I personally find orange more retro in a general sense but agree that the clock color should have been red. It's odd that the manual controls don't match quite as well. The cost of red versus orange LEDs would have been no different.

In regard to the BRZ only, I don't see a reason to get the limited. That however is only my opinion. Automatic climate control is nice, but my AC works just the same and I always end up bumping the AC up on the auto ones super high to cool down anyway. Push button start? I had this on a few different cars and it was a problem on 2 of them. I'll stick with the old fashioned key. Heated seats? I wouldn't mind this feature as I do drive it in the winter, but most people do not so that's kind of pointless. Seats are nice as well but unless I ever plan in sitting in my car naked, I will never feel a difference. I also hate the factory wing that comes on them so I would end up trading that away anyway.

In the end, the only thing I would actually use would be the heated seats in the winter. To me that's not worth the extra cash. This is only one mans opinion though.

Now comparing the FR-S to the BRZ is a different story. I love the interior on the BRZ way more than the interior on the FRS. Standard NAV and HID's for $1k more? Sign me up! Plus for some odd reason, the BRZ was far cheaper to insure and more than made up that difference. Plus, I'd have to pay to ditch those horrid Scion badges and that's just no fun.

Subaru branding on safety vs. Scion. That's the insurance difference. Perception is reality.

Have you ever the keyless entry tech before? It's really helpful and you begin to really enjoy it. It's one feature I wish I would have added to my wife's CX-5.

I didn't mean to offend at all. I was just curious. I'm not defending my position nearly so much so as I'm just curious.

Was this on every car you've had auto climate control? This is my 3rd car, 2nd with auto climate control. I know my parents dislike that if it's really hot or cold inside the car, it'll crank the fan speed for a few minutes until it becomes more reasonable temperature inside--is this one of your biggest issues? I really like just pushing on and forgetting about it.

One thing I really wish this car offered was automatic wipers. My previous car had auto wipers and I loved it. Fiddling with the speeds of the wipers on this car during a recent storm was kind of annoying.